On Tuesday, Florida State starting safety Tyler Hunter underwent neck surgery in Chicago to repair a bulging disk in his neck. As a result, Hunter will not play again in 2013.

The injury occurred during the Seminoles’ September 21 game against Bethune Cookman. The severity of the injury was not immediately known, but after seeing several specialists, it was determined that season-ending surgery was necessary.

Hunter started the first three games for the Seminoles to begin his junior campaign, and grabbed an interception along the way. His loss forced the Seminoles to move true freshman Jalen Ramsey to the safety spot for the Boston College and Maryland games. It appears that move will likely become permanent.

Florida State got a little thinner in the secondary a few weeks ago when Karlos Williams made the switch from offense to defense. He’s shined during his time as a running back, so it would be extremely unlikely that he would make a return to defense any time soon.

Assuming he’s healed in time, Hunter could apply for a medical redshirt and return in 2014 as a redshirt junior. Doctors have said they expect him to make a full recovery.

In the meantime, Florida State will rely on a true freshman on the back end as they take on one of the most explosive offenses in all of college football next. On October 19, the Seminoles will travel to Death Valley to take on Tajh Boyd and the high-powered Clemsonattack.

It will be a big test for the FSU secondary, especially without the leadership from Hunter.

B.L. is an ACC football writer for Rant Sports and can be followed on Twitter @coachlip or on Google

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